Nm. r,. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. S31 



rapidly developed siuce that time. These deposits differ from those 

 of South Carolina and Florida in that it does not exist as pebbly 

 nodules or bowlders, but in veins and pockets. The deposits vary 

 in composition, yet many of the veins are very rich and relatively 

 pure phosphate of lime. This makes them a valuable source of 

 supply for the manufacturer. 



PENNSYLVANIA PHOSPHATES. 



The deposits of phosphates in Pennsylvania, as far as known at 

 the present time, are not very extensive, yet they give promise 

 of assuming some importance. Mr. T. S. Moorhead, of Port Royal, 

 president of the Tuscarora Valley Railroad, was probably the first 

 to call public attention to the existence of phosphate rock in Penn- 

 sylvania, in 1895. He sent numerous specimens of these deposits 

 to the Pennsylvania Experiment Station for examination, and a 

 detailed report of as much as was known of the extent and character 

 of the deposits up to that time was made in 189(1, in Bulletin No. 34, 

 of that Station. 



Three classes of phosphates have thus far been discovered. The 

 first, a friable white rock, locally know^n as "white vein," and con- 

 tains from 29 to 54 per cent, of bone phosphate. The second con- 

 sists of red nodules and contains considerable iron and alumina 

 and an equivalent of from 45 to 52 per cent, of bone phosphate. 

 The third occurs in blocks which resemble blue limestone, and 

 contains about 40 per cent, bone phosphate of lime. Eight feet is 

 the thickest vein discovered as far as reported. 



While these materials are of much lower grade than the phos- 

 phates of South Carolina, Florida and Tennessee, yet it is of con- 

 siderable importance, locally, and will be valuable for shipment to 

 nearby points. 



Some idea of the amount of phosphate rock consumed annually, 

 can be gained from the following figures, which give the amounts 

 mined in the different States during the year 1900: 



Region. 



Florida 



Tennessee 



South Carolina, 

 North Carolina, 

 Pennsylvania, . 



Total 



Long Tons. 



582,900 



438.000 



562,000 



15,250 



3,750 



1,599,900 



